Alternate Sewage Plant Location Unveiled to North Whitehall Planners

North Whitehall Township Planners heard for the first time a plan for a sewage treatment plant on the east side of Rte. 309 between Levans and Shankweiler roads along the PA Turnpike.

Supervisor Steve Pany detailed the new plan, which he said is more economical and better situated than Lehigh County Authority's Jordan Road plan, but the planning commission took no official action. Supervisors Ronald Heintzelman and Mark Hills were not present.

Two representatives from LCA listened to the plan from the audience- which if approved would most likely stall plans for their proposed plant near KidsPeace off Jordan Road on the western side of Rte. 309.

Residents have been testifying against LCA's application for a conditional-use waiver for the Jordan Road proposal since last May. Supervisors, however, approved the waiver at their last meeting with a list of conditions. The approval is just the first step in the process for LCA and further plans for a plant would be subject to supervisors' approval.

When planners asked who would pay for a plant on the east side of Rte. 309, Pany said costs would fall to the company that decides to design, build and operate it.

He could not reveal the name of a particular company but looked toward the two LCA representatives and said, "Hopefully the provider is in this room right now."

Aurel Arndt, general manager of LCA, said after the meeting, "We knew there was a possibility the township would consider an alternate option - the decision clearly will come from within the township and if we can serve the township we are always open to do that."

Before LCA requested the waiver for a Jordan Road proposal in May, township supervisors in February voted to amend the Act 537 plan - a comprehensive plan required by the state that deals with sewage disposal problems and resolutions.

Pany said the township shelved their plans for their plant in order to respect the conditional-use waiver process.

"This is the first formal presentation and it's the result of internal planning for an alternate waste water treatment plant," Pany said.

Another Act 537 plan would cost the township about $20,000, according to Pany, and be administered by Keystone Engineering Consultants. He said supervisors would fast-track the process by using township administrators to help as much as possible with the process.

If built, the plant would serve the yet-to-be-built Walmart, Schnecksville Fire Company and other residences and businesses along the corridor. No one would be required to hook up or be penalized if they don't.

Pany said his proposed plant could be built to treat as many as 900,000 gallons a day and would help alleviate the load at four smaller plants along Rte. 309.

The next step is to negotiate with possible providers and Pany said "he looks forward to LCA's support going forward."